NEET UG 2024: Meet Mumbai’s Maulik Patel, a cancer survivor who scored 715/720 in first attempt

Biology is his favourite subject which is why he wanted to take up medicine. His health further motivated him to appear for NEET.

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“I was unhappy with my rank as I wanted to get in the top 100 bracket. I want admission at King Edward Memorial College as it is just 45 minutes away from my home and taking view of my health, I cannot think of shifting to Delhi,” said the Maharashtra boy who scored 94.67 per cent in Class 12.

Due to his health concerns, Patel could not appear for the Class 12 exam and did not sit for NEET UG 2023. Despite occasional bouts of demotivation during his treatment journey, Maulik’s passion for becoming a doctor fueled his determination to persevere.

“Initially, I was not aware of how long the procedure would go but then my father suggested against appearing for the Class 12 exam and NEET UG 2023. He guided me to aim for next year,” said Patel.

“I relied on recorded lectures from my coaching, Allen Institute after my second surgery, and when my health improved in September 2023, I diligently took all major tests at the centre,” explained Maulik who started to prepare for NEET from Class 10.

He later joined the institute’s crash course to resume his preparations in March 2024. “Though the cancer treatment was traumatic, I never let it interfere with my studies as I do not consider exam preparation a burden,” he affirmed. Carrying his books to the hospital and even taking tests during chemotherapy admissions, the ranker called his parents pillars of strength throughout the journey.

Patel shares his opinion on grace marks granted by the NEET exam conducting body National Testing Agency. “Over 24 lakh students appeared for the exam and then giving grace marks was not fair. It was unfair for students who scored 715 or 720, I think the Agency can take an exam of a similar level for those students. I am ready to take re- exam but practically observing it is impossible because the whole process from registration to admission will start again and a year will be wasted.”